How about these ones? “Pain is gain.” “Everything worth having takes hard work.” “Never take the easy way out.” Or, “Good people always put others first.”

Baloney. Not when it comes to designing your life. Not when it comes to your health. Not when it comes to your happiness.

DOGMA: ALL BARK, NO BITE
There’s too much dogma out there telling us that we have to sacrifice ourselves in order to be good people. There’s too much messaging telling us that the more we give, the more we take a back seat, the more we’ll come first—in other people’s eyes and in helping the world. We see it in the yoga community. Seva (service), anyone? It’s all gotten a bit muddled. Yes, we want to be good people. Yes, we want to do good in the world.

How can we possibly do this without taking care of ourselves? How can we possibly take care of other people’s health and happiness if our own health and happiness is shot?

HAPPY PEOPLE HELP THE WORLD
Let’s put it this way, courtesy Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project: “Epicurus wrote, “We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it.””

And “Contemporary research shows that happy people are more altruistic, more productive, more helpful, more likable, more creative, more resilient, more interested in others, friendlier, and healthier. Happy people make better friends, colleagues, and citizens.”

So what would make you happy today? What would, to use a term Life Coach revolutionary Martha Beck uses, help you feel the “shackles” come off? What would help you feel free? Liberated.

LIBERTY! FREEDOM!SEVA!
Your body knows. It feels free and at ease when you’re making choices that honour your health and happiness. The tension starts to melt. Your stomach, chest, jaw and throat soften. Your breath comes easier and deeper. You begin to show up in the world more authentically, bringing your higher Self, your best Self, and your light is no longer hidden behind tension, resentment and frustration.

You begin to be of service simply by being you. What if it doesn’t matter what picture frame we put on our gifts to the world? What if being a fortune-making corporate copyright lawyer is your true path? What if you are simply here to bring your shining, vibrant self wherever you go? What if that’s enough?

Maybe, you’d be being selfish, or maybe you’d be fulfilling your destiny. And by doing that, by serving yourself, you begin to serve your Self—to the world.

With love,

Lindsey

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About Lindsey Lewis

I’m a yoga teacher, life coach in-training, retreat host, business woman, and entrepreneur. I write, I paint, I draw, I dance. I get outside every day. I challenge myself. I meditate. Riding my cruiser bike along the seawall rocks my world. Being of service is essential. I’m committed to helping the world find their freedom. I believe in love. I believe in the human capacity to evolve, to grow, and to make the world a better place—even if it’s simply through our re-vitalized presence. Let's connect! I'm at Libre Living.
Twitter http://twitter.com/lindsey_lewis
and Facebook www.facebook.com/lindseyonline. Also, Libre Retreats on Twitter @libreretreats

1981788 Responseshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.elephantjournal.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fthe-beauty-of-being-selfish-lindsey-lewis%2FThe+beauty+of+being+selfish%2C+or%2C+why+putting+yourself+first+is+altruistic.2011-08-03+10%3A12%3A05Lindsey+Lewishttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.elephantjournal.com%2F%3Fp%3D198178 to “The beauty of being selfish, or, why putting yourself first is altruistic.”

The way I learned it is that if one doesn't care for oneself, one may become a burden. And although there is something to that, loving oneself enough to do what makes one joyful can spread that feeling all around the world! and what a lovely thing to be able to share!